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Press Release

LULAC Applauds Wal-Mart For Providing Affordable Prescription Drugs.
Seven of the top ten states with the largest Hispanic population will benefit .

October 20, 2006

Contact: Lizette Jenness Olmos
(202) 833-6130 ext.16
LJOlmos@LULAC.org
 

Washington, DC – The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) congratulates Wal-Mart for their efforts in announcing an initiative in 14 states, including some with the highest percentage of Hispanic population in the nation, to provide a $4 generic prescription drug program. With today’s announcement, the prescription program will now be available in an additional 1,264 stores throughout Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas and Vermont. The program was launched in 235 Florida pharmacies on October 6, 2006.

“The prescription drug program provides needed relief to some of the millions of uninsured Hispanics who often avoid filling costly prescriptions and remain untreated,” said LULAC National President Rosa Rosales. “Many have to choose between buying groceries and taking the medication they need.” According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the program will save the state Medicaid programs hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.

“This is a good first step and we hope that other companies will lower their drug and healthcare costs as well,” said LULAC National Vice President for the Elderly Richard Fimbres. “The $4 generic prescription drug program will help alleviate the major challenges faced by those seniors who have fallen into the coverage gap ‘also known as doughnut hole’ in their Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. These seniors, who in many cases could be our grandparents or parents, find themselves responsible for paying 100 percent of prescription drug costs between $2,250 and $5,100. We want to publicly thank Wal-Mart and spread the word to make sure that people take advantage of this great opportunity.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one third of the Latino population and one-half of Latino children are uninsured. The $4 generic prescriptions program is available to the uninsured with a prescription from a doctor. The program includes 314 generic prescriptions available for up to a 30-day supply at commonly prescribed dosages. Generic drugs contain the same active ingredients as brand-name prescriptions and are equally effective, but cost significantly less. Wal-Mart estimates that the list of $4 prescription medications represents nearly 25 percent of prescriptions that it currently provides in its pharmacies nationwide.

The League of United Latin American Citizens, the oldest and largest Latino membership organization in the country, advances the economic conditions, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.

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